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Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan expressed support Monday
to the stand, Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. of Pangasinan that the problem
of the economy has higher priority than the inquiry into the
$329-million national broadband network contract with ZTE, a Chinese
telecommunications firm.
“He has a point there. Priority should be
given to the economic problems besetting the country,” Pangilinan
said.
De Venecia had said that he was willing to
testify at the Senate inquiry on the broadband deal but “at the
proper time,” as he cited the current problems of the Philippine
economy that must be resolved first.
Pangilinan said that the resumption of the
Senate inquiry should not be contingent on the availability of de
Venecia to testify.
Some had interpreted the comment of de Venecia
as an indication that he had not really made up his mind on whether
to testify or not. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Senate
Blue-ribbon committee, said he had talked with de Venecia a number
of times and he expected the former Speaker to be true to his word
that he would testify.
De Venecia was with President Gloria Arroyo when
she made the “surprise visit” to the ZTE headquarters in
Shenzehen, China, on Nov. 2, 2006, six months before she witnessed
the signing of the contract for the broadband project.
At Malacanang, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye
said there are no plans to rebut the testimony de Venecia which
could implicate President Arroyo in the broadband scandal.
“There is a mixed reaction on the testimony
[of de Venecia] but the President at this point is more concerned on
solving urgent problems. That is why she is in Aklan and for the
rest of the week, to listen to the people. We have more pressing
problems and we want undivided attention on these problems,” he
said.
De Venecia cited, among others, his current
health condition and the recent typhoon that hit Pangasinan that
left thousands of families homeless, as reasons why he cannot
immediately heed the growing calls by some sectors for him to
testify in the Senate hearing on the broadband scandal.
-- Efren L. Danao with Angelo S. Samonte
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